Morning Bell: Recovery Summer Vacation

On June 17, Vice President Joe Biden crashed the daily White House press briefing to kick off the Obama administration’s “Recovery Summer,” a six-week-long campaign to promote the belief that “the Recovery Act is working.” VP Biden claimed: “We knew that the hole dug by the recession that was created by the policies of the last administration resulted in a loss, a real loss of somewhere between $2 trillion and $3 trillion in the economy. We never thought that $787 billion was going to fill those holes — that hole.”

So by the White House’s own standard, what verdict does the actual real world data give the Obama stimulus? The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor and Statistics released its monthly jobs report today showing the economy lost 125,000 jobs in June as 225,000 temporary Census jobs ended. Just 83,000 private sector jobs were created in June. All told the U.S. economy has now lost 2.3 million jobs since President Barack Obama signed his stimulus bill and his administration is now 7.4 million jobs short of what he promised the American economy would support by 2010. There is only one word that can adequately describe the gulf between the President’s economic promises and his economic performance: failure.

And then there is all of the economic damage President Obama is compounding by his inept response to the Gulf oil spill. Though a federal judge found that President Obama acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner when he banned all deepwater (over 500 feet) drilling, energy development still has not restarted. Worse, CNN reports that shallow water drillers say the Obama administration has not issued any permits since April 20, effectively creating a stealth ban on all offshore drilling. Heritage analyst David Kreutzer has crunched the numbers and found that a full Obama administration ban on all drilling offshore would be absolutely devastating to the U.S. economy. Between now and 2035, an offshore drilling ban would: 1) reduce GDP by $5.5 trillion; 2) reduce job growth by more than 1 million jobs by 2015 and more than 1.5 million jobs by 2030; and 3) increase the total expenditures for imported oil by nearly $737 billion.

Real private sector job creation will not begin until businesses are confident enough to take risks in pursuit of opportunity. Individuals and businesses across the nation see tremendous opportunities for starting new businesses, investing, hiring new workers and expanding into new markets. From Obamacare to financial regulation to energy policy, the Obama agenda is making it next to impossible for Americans to take advantage of these opportunities. For private sector job creation to accelerate, bring down the unemployment rate and the Obama jobs deficit, step one is for Washington’s job destruction machine to take a long vacation.

Quick Hits:

National Incident Commander Thad Allen admitted yesterday that the Obama administration failed to meet its pledge to recover 90 percent of the flow coming out of the Deepwater Horizon wellbore by the end of June.

The Obama administration Gulf oil spill commission has four environmental advocates — three members and the executive staff director — but no energy industry representation.

A federal program designed to help impoverished families heat and cool their homes wasted more than $100 million paying the electric bills of thousands of applicants who were dead, in prison or living in million-dollar mansions.

In celebration of America’s Founding, The Heritage Foundation will be releasing a series of products in the coming weeks including study guide companion to We Still Hold These Truths and a video series.

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I don't know where the WH get's it's numbers but they sure don't reflect the true picture. 1st: most of the fishermen, shrimpers etc are self employed and do not qualify for unemployment. 2nd: My son and others that live in SW Fla. have been laid off due to this oil crisis, these have not started getting unemployment so will not show up until next quarter. 3rd: I t does not refelct on those who are working part time and those who have exhausted their claims or just gave up. This administration is a joke, it cares nothing about the general public, only how many trips he can take, speeches he can make telling everone how great he is. I've never seen anything like this in my life of over 3/4 of a century.

Spinmister Bidden and now Huh?mister Pelosi typify the socialist progressive belief that if you increase the size and cost of government you can create wealth. We must send this crowd of carpet baggers home this November before they spend us into debtor's hell.

I can not help but think this administration is anti-American in all respects. It sure seems that every move obama and the dems are working to take this country to the "DARK AGES". I am not a "ROCKET SCIENTIST" but do know that higher taxes, bans on drilling and all the entitlement programs are not the way to get this country going again. The white house is living in a dream world, continually blowin smoke and telling us the whole world is better off because of what they have done since taking office. IT IS ALL BS.

I'm so tired of hearing about the previous administration. VP Bite Me you and obummer were part of this administration. Weren't both of you in the Demo Controled Senate the last 2 years of Pres. Bush's Adm. Didn't your Demo party insist that Fannie May and Freddie Mack were doing excellent? What you idiots are forgetting to say is the fact that Fannie May and Freddie Mack caused the melt down of the housing market. When Pres. Bush wanted to do something about the border you and your demo (I mean this in the sense of demolition) party refused to co-operate. You twist facts most of the time so that what you are spewing from your mouths are downright lies. Obummer should stay off the tube. Everytime he opens his mouth more and more lies pour out. We have your number now. I came to this conclusion anything the demos and obummer says is good; it's bad. If obummer and the demos say is bad; it's good. This is the frame of mind Americans have to live by until 2012.

It is so frustrating to see our Country going down the drain with Obama n his Administration in charge.

This president doesn't give a damn about the American people, The Constitution, Bill of Rights what our country stands for, all he is interested in is tearing it down and building his ego. The corruption within Washington and Administration and stopping anyway it can what the American people want.

By the time we 2012 comes, we may not have The America we love and ancestors fought for plus all our troops who fought for the liberty of America.

Can this President be impeached? You see in Chicago trial where Obama was involved, dirty and corrupt politics. The FBI, JUstice Dept all have their hands tied and poor Arizona trying to protect itself. The president does nothing but play golf, talk and ignores the spill of oil.

Throw all the Democracts out and any Republician that has gone along in bringing down our Country, Economy, stimulus bills, take over of banks, Automotive, etc.

This President is doing exactly what he planned to do from the start break mthis country and turn it into a socialist nation. What a sham this administration is . I'm not sure we can even get rid of him in the next elections.

Why do we allow liberal media to spout this dribble. There has been nothing worthwhile from the trillion dollar slush fund. For anyone to state recovery, they should be silenced. Really tired of socialist propaganda. Have hope some literates waking up.

I fear American taxpers will not sit by too much longer as this country disintegrates. Obama is meanspirited……..his middle name should be "destruction" for that is what he's doing to this country…….and he knows it too!! It's all his "plan" for this country.

Ring the bells of freedom very loud this July 4th! Majority of Americans want BO out of the White House. Majority of Americans will NOT be sefs to the government!

The thing that bothers me about the claims of the success of the stimulus is the doublespeak they use. They "know" the stimulus created-or-saved some number of jobs (is it 2.3 million?), but they know they underestimated the severity of the recession. Think about what that means. They know they were wrong about the recession, but that's how they know they were right. Democrats always want to characterize Republicans as the money people, while they are all about how people feel. Maybe that's why they think throwing money at any problem will fix it: they just don't know any better. If $782 billion worth of stimulus didn't fix the recession, how much do they think it will take? If that's not enough, what's another couple hundred billion (or another 782 for that matter) going to accomplish?

Notice there isn't any discussion of when things might work themselves out without government intervention. There is a complete lack of confidence in the American people to do anything for themselves. I guess the hope the President's campiagn touted was hope that the government would fix everything, instead of hope that the government could be fixed. I'm too disgusted to keep going.

When is the American People going to take a stand and say enough is enough. This administration is doing everything in its power to discourage new job formation. The administration at the same time blames corporations for sitting on their profits and not investing in the recovery. The corporations are unsure what new tax or fee that the administration and their lackey's in congress is going to enact so they are not hiring new workers. Small businesses are finding it increasingly more difficult to stay in business because they can't afford lawyers and accountants to decipher the new laws and taxes as well as secure loans to stay in business. We the people need to correct this and send this administration packing as well as this congress that keeps passing this socialistic pile of horse excrement. We need to throw da bums out

I believe we have had a democratic Congress for at least the last 5 years….Unless I am mistaken THEY pass spending bills. The Republicans were big spenders and must change. The Democrats are out of control.

This is all great information. However, I fear that the distribution is limited to those of us who are members and subscribers to the Heritage Foundation. I just don't see the administration being publicly criticized or their inaccuracies (aka lies) being brought to the attention of the general populace. FOX news is certainly visable, but is, again, watched primarily by the initiated. There may not be time for assimilation, there needs to be a major media blitz that forces the issues on main street America. If media time and space has to be purchased, then there is no one better than the Heritage Foundation to lead that effort. Preaching to the choir leads to very few conversions.

I am an avid reader of your on-line publications. I am a constitutional conservative. I am very frustrated by the perpetuation of the myth that the current recession was caused by the past administration as referenced in the article that you published today ( 2 Jul 10). By failing to challenge this groundless assumption , you are adding credence to the argument. This is a CRITICAL mistake because this is the main argument that the socialists are making in order to absolve themselves of their utter failure of governance. The fundamental root of the current crisis is the legislation promulgated during the Carter and Clinton administrations that postured those who could not afford homes to be able to get homes. Add to that the force that ACORN brought against lending institutions and it is no surprise that we are where we are. Surely there were other factors that aggravated the situation such as the runaway derivatives market. There is the destructive contribution of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac. I could go on and on but my major point is that our current crisis has its explicit roots in socialistic experiments that go back a long time in our history. I cannot comprehend why this was not challenged in your article. But even much more so, I can't fathom why conservative voices such as yours are not driving this point home strongly and unrelentingly to the public in all of the media forums that are available. Why is this going unchallenged?!?! There have been excellent challenges from the Mises Institute, but they have an audience that doesn't extend far beyond their own "choir." The American people must be educated on this issue or the Bush smokescreen will continue to be used effectively to hide the utter incompetence of of our current governance.

The only way to see any logic in what Obama and the Progressives do, and have been doing over the years, Is to accept the premise that he and they want the USA to fail, to crumble under the weight of their policies. Only a willfully "blind" person fails to accept this. Obama's entire life has been shaped and devoted to establishing a Socialist state for Ameica! He doesn't like America! He doesn't like our system of government

So, stop trying to understand what and why they do what they do. They do not deserve the benefit of the doubt. Ameicans need to stop being in denial about the man. He is not for America! He is against America! He has revealed what he is by his own words and by those with whom he surrounds himself.

As for Biden, He is a hack politician and as buffoonish as is Al Gore!

Bravo, a great piece and another clear indication that the policies of this Administration are a failure and it's becoming obvious that without a change in direction, soon, the unintended consequences will be astronomical; not only in money but the personal hardship these decisions will create. Unemployment is at 10%, higher in several places, and nothing is being done except to try and spend more money to keep teachers and government workers from being laid off. It's too bad that the answer to all of this is for Obama to either change directions, dramatically, or for the Congress to change into a Republican held House and Senate. i guess the first indication will be what happens this November.

I can see that if and when, possibly November, we can finally begin to remove these Deemers and dimwit RINO's from long held offices that along with this process there will be a major change in the way news is regarded by the viewers and readers in this country. The long awaited "need to fail" capitalist system is going to hit some of the old money losing news outlets and new more appropriate reporting can fill in the spots as the demand increases.

I'm sorry, who's economic policies were the driving force creating the worst recession in my, or your, lifetime? How many other eight year term Republicans created the kind of deficits that we are experiencing now?

I recognize that busines cycles run approximately every five years. If you credit Reagan for his accomplishments, but don't criticize him for what followed, try to be consistent with the Bush administration.

Republicans should follow their platform, and not their rhetoric. I taught my children to hold me, and themselves, to what I do, not what I say. Only Clinton, as an eight year president, followed the Republican platform in my lifetime. That's based on what he did, not what he said.

Obama is doing exactly like he wanted. He has no desire to create jobs or take care of the people in the gulf. His whole idea is to have as many people as possible dependent on the government entitlement programs. The longer he takes to respond in the gulf, the more people all over the country, whose livelihood depends on the fish from the gulf, will be effected and desire unemployment and other entitlements. He needs to be impeached for aiding and abbeting the enemy. The enemy being the terrorists and Drug Cartels whom he is allowing into our country because he refused to take care of the border too!

I voted for Bush twice but will admit that he made some mistakes and certainly was not perfect. However, I am worn out with the ignorance of so many people when they forget that the 'dumbacrats' controlled Congress the last two years he was in office. It is well documented that many of their policies led to our economic, financial and housing meltdowns. If these uninformed voters were to take a look at an unemployment chart they would see the rate was approximately 5.5% the day Obama was elected. It then quickly went up from there because the business community, especially small businesses fear the 'Dumbacrats' being in control. The sad point to be made is that our economy will not improve significantly until Obama's power and control is taken away in November 2010. Each one of us must do what we can to replace these Socialists. This 'empty suit' does not know what he is doing—–period !!!

Guys, to be effective, you (we) must equally seek out and eliminate (one at a time, and in this upcoming and also future elections – stay the course) those Republicans who justified and remain unrepentant about both the George Bush "stimulus" decisions (we tend to gloss over his 150-160 billion "chicken in the pot" like a big govt Democrat move a year prior to the "bailout"), and also the Medicare drug benefit – which John Goodman at the NCPA has identified as the worst entitlement decision ever – by a multiple over Social Security votes of the last 30-40 years, etc., and which Jeb Hensarling regrets voting for, after his arm was severely twisted by so-called "moderate" Repub leaders who were – and still are – still trying to hang on and control the power and money to practice crony so-called capitalism.

If we do not, then there is really no point in venting the frustration. Yes Obama is going about 4 or 5 times as fast, and ideologically apparently has more sinister motives to undermine our founding principles and what has also worked for the past centuries here, including the wisdom of Proverbs and our grandmas and grandpas on financial policy and stewardship (don’t spend what you don’t have, don’t count your chickens before they hatch, save for a rainy day, if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t, etc..) But Bush and the Repubs were going in the same direction and would have gotten us to this point, just more slowly (e.g., Cheney et al. “deficits really do not matter”), and Constitutional principles were being abused also, although again, it looks like Obama’s group are now on steroids on that front as well, and with even more sinister motives.

Every Repub who voted for the Bush stimuli and went along – by default or intentionally – with the Bush group (yes, there really was not that much difference in the votes and “principles” used, just a factor of dollars) Keynesian central govt model, and touts his earmarks and "what he has done for the locals" using other people’s money (and speaks the language of “don’t worry – Washington funds will pay for it”), should be given the “opportunity” to apologize for his stimulus votes and his violation of the principles of private enterprise, free (or at least more free) capitalism and his encouragement of “crony capitalism”.

(Unfortunately for me, that would include both my own Kay Bailey H. and John Cornyn, and Pete Sessions – do you see the trend here? they are desperately trying to control and mute the discussion and hang on to the leadership, and even using the Clinton-Obama method for co-opting the discussion by claiming to support the principles, while not acting consistently with them when it truly counted, and stifling the true deficit folks.)

They should be forced to answer and either admit, repent and truly change (and we have to watch out for the “vote” game where some votes are taken to hold out as representative, without looking at the full record and what happens when it truly matters – for example Pete Sessions stifled the congressional Repubs and voted in favor of the stimulus when the true principled Repubs in the House had first defeated the Bush – Paulsen proposal, so his later votes against the later Obama add ons were truly “meaningless” from a when it mattered standpoint – and yet he justified his votes all week long during that time when the matter was truly in the balance), or attempt to justfy – from a constitutional standpoint, an economic standpoint, a Declaration of Independence and founding principles standpoint, etc..

We need people who will buck the theory to get along and go along, with the tendency that power and association has to corrupt and influence, and which the founders, as Heritage so aptly informs, feared as a first priority in setting up our system, and about which they exhorted us to inform ourselves and use eternal vigilance to oppose and thwart.

So are we willing to do so, even when it is inconvenient to those who belong to the same country clubs, attend the same fundraising and networking events, appear on the same "community do gooder" lists, even attend the same churches or synagogues, etc. with?

In other words, are we still guilty of wanting to seek our own personal benefits instead of what is good for us as a community overall to create and preserve the kind of environment allowing for individual success (rule of law, limiting govt to its essential constitutional functions, etc.) and to suffer the losses and/or keep (at least most) of the benefits when we succeed, and maximize our individual liberty to provide jobs, extend charity to the needy whom we can identify without always needing the govt to tell us who is "worthy", etc., and decline the temptation to attempt to hedge your bets on your own risky endeavors by laying off your losses on me and the other folks whom you tax (directly or indirectly) when we make money, but ignore and do not provide counterbalancing benefits to when we do not?

Let's just hope enough people get it that Dems are thrown out this year. Then, we must STAY on the Republicans to actually DO something besides wait until 2010. That includes, defunding of the HC bill and selling (gee, do you think the party of small entrepreneurs should be able to sell?) 3 basics for HC:

These three steps will make a MAJOR difference, period. Forget the "all encompassing, have to do everything, settle every insurance problem" mindset of some Republican leaders – pick three and go. Stop the funding, period.

The WH has no real ideas on how to fix this ecomony other than to spend money we don't have and to blame the Republicans. Don't they remember that for 6 of Bush's last 8 years the economy expanded and the last 4 the Democrates controlled Congress? I guess it is easier to spin tales than to tell the truth. I believe we are headed for a prolonged recession until the President's an Congresses' policies are reversed. If I was a business owner, I would not expand now, there are too many unknowns that will probably cost the companies and the economy too much money. The best thing Wash DC could do would be to stop passing laws and wasting our money.

I agree with Bob's arguments. The oil spill is a typical example of a system from both the Democrat and Republican perspective that has gone wrong. BP wanted to develop and produce a product by any means without regards to the consequences of haphazard and thoughtless production. As a result of this arrogant and thoughtless approach, the lives of many people have been abruptly changed for years to come.

The moratorium is a punishment to those in the industry who are doing things the right way. New energy alternatives may take centuries to develop.

We've had creeping socialism/Communism/Marxism for years. Now we wake up to see the "people" have been so dumbed down they are too stupid to understand they are losing their freedom. If Obama's blatant hatred of American values isn't enough to WAKE UP THE SLEEPING GIANT, he's dead.

Obama doesn't want to contain the oil spill. He wants it to become as large as possible and then take over as much of BP as he possibly can like he has taken over the banks, Auto industry, and large insurance companies. Maybe even other oil companies as well. They want gas to cost at least $8.00/ gal. Besides, the people in the Gulf coast are mostly Republican. They must be punnished.

It's just as I thought if I post a comment that is contraversel you won't post it.Others have posted comments that were three times as long as mine, so as far as i'm consered I am no longer a member of your group. Good Day.

You're right…with the establishment of the welfare state..that seems to be the beginning and it's only been going downhill since then. And we HAVE been dumbed down in our schools…the media… and the re writing of our history by those in charge…and how many people work in the public sector? Millions I would say and we, the taxpayers, pay their salaries too AND their retirement. Add on to that all the entitlement programs and I just don't see any way out of this. We are talking and talking about change but can we afford to wait until 2012? I fear not. Greece citizens revolted and they were the public employees….and that's what 'll happen if things quickly. Between the public workers and the entitlement receivers, it'll be utter chaos.

John Maynard Keynes pass on about 70 years ago. Unfortunately, his General Theory is like a bow-tied Freddy Kruger that destroys everything in its path, is killed only to be miraculously resurrected to reek havoc in an even more terrifying form.

General Theory is politically popular because it empowers the state at the expense of the market and the taxpayers.

Keynesian economics has never worked, it isn’t working now and never will work in the future. History is clear on this.

As long as politicians that covert power are elected, Keynesian economics will refuse to die.

Unless the HF and it’s spokespeople are willing to take the arrows from the progessives and the MSM, spend the money necessary to talk opennly and forcefully to the American people on a national level with coverage, we are doomed. Just preaching to converts on this site is getting all of us nowhere.

How do you explain that even the FOX News poll yesterday shows 47% of this country in their polling models still support the criminal in chief?

I am getting tired of all the responses on here trying to figure out what is going on is completely in front of your eyes and deliberate. Obama is just a puppet for other outside influences from the progressive field calling the shots for him. That is why Obama spends so much time on vacation type events.

American be dammed is his matra. He is smiling all the way with his middle finger sticking out at all of us.

Can anyone explain what has happened to the word democratic congressman? Where are these traitors heads beside in the sand.

A country in which Michael Moore is awarded prizes as a documentary film maker has already lost all rational, analytical capability and could not be expected to recognize socialism for the totalitarian evil it is. That Obama's simplistic hope and change slogan inspired "useful idiots" comes as no surprise. For people whose mental cruise conttrol is set comfortably at the speed of "Oprah sentimentalism," the Obama cause must be one thrilling ride. Here in our pop culture swamp, where the highest achievement level is epic irrelevance, glittering generalities enjoy intellectual parity with profound thought and genuine creativity. Ah well, so long as there is "social justice" this must be the utopia we were promised — just like Cuba.

President elect Obama urged then President Bush to leave office early so they could engage their economic plan early. As time has gone by it has become apparent that President Obama is clueless as to what needs to be done for this country and economy so I suggest he step down and leave the job to a professional.

Where are the bright, frolicking neighborhood parties with the unspeakable joy in the knowledge that our forefathers toiled and died to establish and preserve this bastion of freedom which we called America? Where is that 'Spirit of '76 pride' we all felt during those festive times, parades down main street, toddlers waving their little American flags, tears running down the cheeks of mothers realizing what a magnificent blessing had been laid on them, having been born in or come to this priceless land by sheer providence? Where are those lumps in the throat as with right hand over our heart or a military salute we solemnly recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and OUR COUNTRY for which it stood? Where is that iron-clad and boundless determination to preserve and defend our freedom and our Constitutiion at whatever cost might have been required, come hell or high water? Where? WHERE??? Tell me if you know. Better yet, remind yourselves and all your friends where it went. Best yet, remind the bottom feeding scumbags who call themselves the 'administration' of our precious heritage, come November. If that doesn't work, we only have two alternatives remaining. In that event we must make a choice. Which will it be?

[…] At the end of May, the President announced that he would be extending his temporary moratorium for six months. But at a time when the White House is desperately trying to spin a dismal June job’s report, forcing thousands of Gulf rig workers out of work only increases the strain on an already fragile local and national economy. […]

[…] job’s report, forcing thousands of Gulf rig workers out of work only increases the strain on an already fragile local and national economy.An article in Sunday’s Time-Picayune discussed the projected impact of the President’s […]

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